Page 44 of Lady of Fortune
“You look rather handsome yourself,” she returned, and to that, he grinned at her now. For he knew she had likely never seen him before outside of his silks or his working clothes. While he would never admit it, as much as he despised dressing for the nobility in general, hehaddressed with her in mind.
“Thank you,” he said, and this time he did wink at her, if only to make her laugh, for no other sound was better than Julia’s tinkling giggle, which, while not a particularly deep, hearty laugh, was as real and as fulsome as any he had ever heard before.
He saw her gaze wander beyond his shoulder, and he turned to see that couples had found their way to the middle of the room and were now turning about the dance floor.
Julia looked at him imploringly, and he couldn’t miss the question in her eyes.
“Do you… do you ever dance?” she asked shyly, and at that moment he truly wished he was a man who could give her everything he wanted, who could sweep her into his arms and out onto the dance floor where he would make her feel like a princess.
But the dancing Eddie knew was not the dancing that would be appropriate at this particular party, and so he just grinned sheepishly at her.
“I do at times, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t know the steps to this dance.”
She nodded.
“This is a quadrille. It is rather complicated. Perhaps once a waltz begins? It is simple enough, so I’m sure you would pick up the steps in moments.”
He wanted to say yes to her — hell, he wanted to say yes now to any question she asked him. But to agree would only mean that he would make a fool of them both, and that was the last thing they should do the day before what would be the largest race of both of their lives.
“Not tonight, little one,” he said, trying to soften the blow with a gentle smile.
She nodded, but he didn’t miss the look of disappointment that clouded her eyes for but a moment.
“Of course,” she said. “Perhaps we will have to practice sometime.”
“Perhaps,” he murmured, and they resumed watching the dancers before them.
CHAPTER22
Julia pretended she was watching those around her, but really, all she wanted to do was feast her gaze upon Eddie. He cut a dashing figure in his black pants and matching jacket, and she was well aware that she was not the only woman in the room who had taken a second look at him. His hair, typically rather unkept but in a charming sort of way, was now pulled back away from his forehead. He looked… polished, she thought. Rather stately.
And yet in the same breath, there was still an aura about him that bespoke to his true self. He was not ostentatious, didn’t hold himself with the same air of importance as did many of the lords around the room.
If she were being honest, as handsome as he looked, she rather liked her Eddie in his racing silks or his old, torn jacket that he wore about the stables. For it bespoke to who he was, deep inside, the man she had always loved.
She did wish he would dance with her, if only so that he would hold her in his arms for a few moments, at least. But he did not seem particularly inclined to do so, and she wasn’t going to push him. It was enough that he was here.
“Julia, is that you?”
Julia nearly groaned aloud as she heard the voice from behind her. Of course, if anyone in this entire room would find her with Eddie in this alcove, it would be Lady Rebecca Charles. She closed her eyes for a couple of seconds, taking a deep breath as she willed herself to turn around and say hello. When she finally opened her eyes, Eddie was clearly holding back a smile, and he bowed his head slightly toward Rebecca.
“Good evening,” he said, and Julia then turned much more suddenly, as she had no wish for Eddie’s smile to remain on the woman any longer.
“Lady Rebecca, how lovely to see you tonight,” Julia said with a forced smile, and it was clear Rebecca was actually quite pleased about seeing Julia as well, although not because of her own presence but because of the fact she was accompanied by a man such as Eddie. “And who is yourcompanionthis evening?”
“This is Mr. Francis,” Julia rather unwillingly introduced him. “Mr. Francis, please meet Lady Rebecca Charles.”
“Lovely to meet you,” Eddie said, and when he lifted her hand, Julia gave him a look that said if he brought it any closer to his lips, there was sure to be trouble.
“How do you know one another?” Rebecca asked with a tight smile of interest.
“Through the racing circuit,” Julia said, not wanting to further conversation with Rebecca, who seemed far too interested in their acquaintance. As it was, she was likely to depart from their conversation only to spread the news of the two of them throughout the room. “Actually Mr. Francis and I were just about to take a turn about the room. If you will excuse us, Lady Rebecca, I hope you and I are able to speak again soon.”
Rebecca looked crestfallen, likely more so because of the lack of information she had acquired, but Julia took Eddie’s arm and after a quick word of farewell, he began to lead her out of the alcove while Rebecca walked away.
Julia hadn’t realized just how many people had filled the room until they turned to leave what seemed to be their little safe haven. Why, it seemed half of Newmarket was here.
“What was that about?” Eddie asked. “You didn’t seem particularly—”
